Archive for November, 2010

One of our favorite website tools is the information that we offer regarding preparing your home for the big installation day! There is a lot to do to prepare for this big day, below is the basic information that we offer. All of this can be found under “Design Tips” and “Preparing Your Home” on our home page.

Day of Installation:

Each customer should have a responsible person on the premises at the time of installation in order to verify the correct materials and inspect the job upon completion. Our installers will call you the morning of the installation to provide you with an approximate time of arrival.

Excessive Furniture:

Before the installers arrive please prepare the following: Remove all items from closet floors and under beds. Remove all bedcovering, fragile items, lamps, nick-knacks, glassware, books, and all items from the top of your furniture. All computers, stereos, televisions, or other electronic equipment must be disconnected.

Excessive Furniture: Additional charges may apply to areas with excessive or heavy furniture or any furniture that requires disassembly. We do not move antiques, grandfather clocks, aquariums, pool tables, waterbeds, safes, gym equipment, baby grand or grand pianos (most of these items need to be professionally moved)

Appliances:We are not responsible for damages as a result of disconnecting or reconnecting any water supply lines, appliances, toilets, etc. We recommend that the homeowner use a certified plumber, electrician or contractor to do this as necessary.

Cables & Wires:Should you require positioning of any wires, cables, or phone lines, etc please discuss this with your installer prior to installation. Our installers will try to accommodate you requests but can not be responsible for any damage that may occur. We recommend you contact a professional for any sensitive type of wiring or cabling.

Secured Premises:(Condominiums and Gated Communities) please check with the building/property management for accessibility to parking, elevators, service entrances, and procedures. All access arrangements must be made prior to our installers arriving.

Proper Power:Make sure there is adequate power, light, and ventilation available 24 hours prior to installation. Air conditioning is mandatory for all wood or laminate installations.

Removal of Old Flooring:Please remove your old flooring prior to the installers arrival. If you are removing old carpeting and pad yourself, please leave the existing tack strip down only if replacing with new carpet. If you wish Dolphin Carpet & Tile to remove and haul away your old flooring, we can provide this service for you for an additional cost. Please advise your sales representative.

Carpet Seams: Just as with any material such as clothing, drapes, or upholstery, seams are visible. Some carpets will seam better than others, each fabric has its own characteristics. Our installers take great pride in making the seams as inconspicuous as possible. We can only guarantee that our seams will be properly made (straight, not gapped, or overlapping). Seam placement and the number of seams is a factor in determining the total material required. We will estimate your material requirements based on what our professional staff considers being proper seam placement. If you should have a preference in seam placement please inform your sales representative before any material is ordered.

Pattern Match:Due to the nature of the manufacturing process most print and multi tone patterns are impossible to match exactly. Many of these styles will require additional material to achieve the closest match possible.

Material Waste:Every installation has material waste these left over pieces are most common in irregular rooms or when stairs and halls are recovered. Our installers will dispose of most waste during the cleanup process. Please advise your installer if you desire to keep any of the scrap material.

Moldings:Baseboard moldings, in most installations, can be left in place. Our installers will work with the molding, but cannot be responsible for breakage and scratches. If you have quarter round moldings and wish to have them removed for your new flooring, please discuss this with your installer before the installation process begins. Removal of your quarter rounds may cause some damage to your baseboards and paint.

Door Cutting:Our installers will gladly remove hinged doors and replace them after your new flooring is installed. If, however, your new flooring is thicker than your old flooring, the doors will need trimming for proper clearance. In this instance the doors will be left off their hinges so you can trim the doors.

Painting:If your walls or ceilings need repainting, we recommend that all painting is complete before your new flooring arrives. Keep some left over paint for touchups.

Clean Up:The installers will make a post-installation inspection with you to guarantee your complete satisfaction. After the installation they will pick up and dispose of scrap materials. Normal installation methods may scuff or scratch you baseboards and walls. Expect touchups to paint or wallpaper after the installation.

If little Tommy drops his Thanksgiving dinner plate on the carpet today, don’t worry. This year, we’re sharing some of our best stain removal techniques with you. We hope you find these tips useful. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Dolphin Carpet & Tile.

Nail Polish Remover – Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt, call a professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet and Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846.

Everyone needs Care Tips regarding their flooring. Our website features a page focusing on only care tips for carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate and stone care and maintenance. Under the “Services” tab at the top of the page, click on “Care Tips”, this will direct you to the right page.

Thanksgiving is just 8 days away! We thought we’d share one of our favorite recipes with you to get you ready just in time for the holiday! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Dolphin Carpet & Tile.

Ingredients

2 cups peeled, cooked sweet potatoes

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup milk

9-inch unbaked pie crust

3 egg whites

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the filling, using an electric hand mixer, combine the potatoes, 1 cup of the sugar, the butter, eggs, vanilla, salt, and spices. Mix thoroughly. Add the milk and continue to mix. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pie on a rack and cool to room temperature before covering with meringue.

For the meringue, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is glossy and stiff, but not dry. With a rubber spatula, spoon the meringue onto the pie, forming peaks. Make sure the meringue touches the crust all around. Sprinkle with a pinch of granulated sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cool and serve.

Planning for Thanksgiving involves more than a trip to the grocery store. Many stressful holidays occur because only the food is planned. By taking the time early to handle the other aspects of the holiday, you can have more time for your last-minute food preparations.

Thanksgiving is often the one holiday when people bring out all their best china and silver. It’s also a day when you may have many dinner guests. The best way to plan for this is to set the table early. If you have silver that needs polishing or you can’t find Aunt Lavine’s cranberry compote dish, Thanksgiving morning is not the day to discover these problems. Spend part of the weekend before pulling out everything and setting the table. (You can eat in front of the TV for a few days.)

Prepare for any potential problems or accidents. Your dining room floor and table linens are at risk with a Thanksgiving dinner. Pre-plan for spills with a good collection of white towels and your favorite spot remover if needed. Quick attention fo spilling protects your rugs and tablecloths without unduly embarassing your guests.

You may want to serve food buffet-style, reducing the demands for passing everything and allowing more space at the table. Plan which serving pieces will be used, and lay out your buffet ahead of time. Then just add the food on Thanksgiving day. This will leave room for decorative elements on the table itself.

Finally, plan ahead for the meal itself. Check your recipes when you make your shopping list and prepare anything you can ahead-of-time. Are there any bakeries or stores that make great pies? Consider buying them and saving yourself some time and trouble. Make a plan for Thanksgiving morning that factors in any oven or stove-top space limitations. Give yourself a spare half-hour to hour in your calculations to cover the unexpected.

With these plans you have a good chance of experiencing a fun and lower-stress holiday. Maybe you’ll even be able to watch a little football!

If you want to decorate your home for Thanksgiving, your best resource is your local grocery store! Pumpkins – generally half price or less after Halloween – can join with gourds, squash and Indian corn to make your home inviting and seasonal.

Start by browsing through your collection of accessories. Do you have any antiques that would go well with autumn moods and colors? Baskets and pottery or metal bowls look inviting when filled with smaller fall products. If you purchase a nice selection of various squash, they will hold up throughout the season and are excellent roasted after their decorative use is over.

Once you’re finished rummaging through your home and local grocer, step outside and take full advantage of fall’s bounty. Do you have any trees with turning leaves? Press them in a book for about a week, and they will dry to muted versions of their original colors. Once dried and pressed they may be fragile but will last for years if protected from abuse. Also look for dried grasses and berries on your property or along the roadside to add color and personality to your displays. With a little imagination and effort, you can create a fall environment in your home that will take your guest’s breath away.

Now, close your eyes and imagine how wonderful your house will look. Do you have any ideas or tips to make our vision of your home even better?

At Dolphin Carpet, we try to make it as easy and fun for you to choose products as possible. That’s why you’ll find on the Dolphin Carpet and Tile website, tools such as our product gallery. Here, you can choose from colors, features, fiber, construction and even how eco friendly the product is!

Do you wish your kitchen were more inspiring and less mundane? If you answered yes, consider some tips below. Adding a dash of flavor to your kitchen is easier than you may think. Give your kitchen a make over by doing one or a few of the following:

Paint your walls or your cabinets a vibrant color; such as green, yellow, blue or red. The kitchen is one room in your house that can handle a little drama, take advantage of this and add your favorite color. *Tip: Replacing the hardware on your cabinets is a small detail that makes a big difference. Have fun and choose exciting hardware!

Add a backsplash. You have a wide variety of types and styles to choose from. Tumbled stone tiles add warmth and comfort to a traditional kitchen. Glass tiles make a kitchen feel clean and fresh. Metal backsplashes are available in tiles or sheets and sold in a number of sheens; from honed to shinny chrome. Metal backsplashes add a sheik spin to any kitchen. No matter what style you prefer; a backsplash tends to look classic for years.

Kitchens can have a tendency to look cold and institutional. This is especially true when there is a large fluorescent fixture; providing the majority of light. Replace that fixture with one more stylish and warmer colored bulb. *Tip: You can continue using a fluorescent bulb for energy efficiency. They are available in a range of shades from cool to warm.

Clear containers, in gradual sizes, are great for storing items and ingredients. They also make great accessories for a kitchen. You can fill them with seasonal items and place them directly on your counter or sit them on top of cabinets. Filling them with different colored substances is a way to add spice anytime the mood strikes you!